“I can’t go through another day like this past Saturday,” Keene Town Supervisor Joe Pete Wilson said in October. “It’s beyond the capacity of a town of 1,100 to deal with. It’s just beyond our capacity.”
Forest rangers rescue hikers on Little Porter, Shelving Rock and elsewhere
The following are forest ranger actions from August 12-18. The information is provided by the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Town of Keene Essex County Wilderness Rescue: On August 12 at 12:11 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a man reporting that his wife had a non-weight bearing ankle injury on the side of Little Porter Mountain. The injury occurred when she and two others went off the hiking trail. Coordinates provided by Essex County 911 placed the hikers just over a half-mile from where they started their hike in Keene Valley. Forest Rangers Robbi Mecus, Kevin Burns, >>More
September algae blooms follow summer beach closures
Three state beaches in the Adirondacks had temporary closures this summer because of high coliform bacteria counts or algae blooms, according to environmental authorities.
Judge Rules In Favor of Adirondack Scenic Railroad
A state Supreme Court Judge has ruled that the 34-mile section of tracks between Lake Placid and Tupper Lake should remain in place.
Call For More Forest Rangers
The number of people using the Forest Preserve in the Adirondack Park, especially in the High Peaks region, has increased dramatically in recent years, causing some people to say there is a need for more forest rangers.
Hiker Skip Baker Was Military Vet
A fifty-year-old hiker who drowned in the East Branch of the Ausable in late July was a military veteran who had struggled with post-traumatic-stress disorder but found outlets in horses and hiking.
Autopsy Shows Missing Great Range Hiker Drowned
An autopsy performed August 2 determined that missing hiker Ralph “Skip” Baker drowned in the East Branch of the Ausable River. The death was ruled accidental.
Great Range Hiker Found Dead In Ausable River
Missing hiker Ralph “Skip” Baker was found Tuesday by searchers in the East Branch of the Ausable River near the base of the Wolfjaw Mountains in the Great Range.
DEC Working On Drone Regs For Forest Preserve
The state Department of Environmental Conservation is working on new regulations to address drone use on the Forest Preserve. Some fear the airborne devices will diminish the wild character of the Forest Preserve
Controlling Crowds In The High Peaks
DEC is relying on education and the efforts of partner groups to deal with the increasing number of hikers who have been coming to the High Peaks region.